Inside the block-making mill at Portsmouth naval dockyard in around 1900. Built by Henry Maudslay, these single-purpose machines formed the world's first production line.

Image: Science Museum/SSPL

Henry Maudslay

What would life be like without accurately made machines? Your car might not work as the engine components wouldn't fit together properly. Repairing it could take weeks. How would you get to school or to work?

Today, we take well-made machines for granted. This is partly due to Henry Maudslay and his engineers.